32 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The eastern Michigan landscape surrounding Clay Township features a mix of waterfront and wooded camping options, with Algonac State Park Campground serving as the area's primary destination. Located directly on the St. Clair River, this year-round park offers both tent and RV camping with views of passing freighters. Within an hour's drive, campers find additional options ranging from full-service private campgrounds like Port Huron KOA to more secluded state recreation areas including Holly Recreation Area and Pontiac Lake. The region balances developed sites with basic amenities against more remote locations, particularly along Lake Huron's shoreline where Lakeport State Park provides beach access and water recreation.
Most campgrounds in the area require advance reservations, especially during the peak summer season from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Campsites at popular waterfront locations like Algonac State Park often book six months ahead for weekend stays. As one camper noted, "This place has amazing views along the St. Clair River. The freighter traffic did not disappoint." Weather conditions remain relatively mild during camping season, though spring brings occasional heavy rainfall that can affect site conditions. Mosquitoes and ticks become prevalent in wooded areas by mid-summer, particularly in the inland recreation areas. Cell service varies significantly, with stronger coverage near Port Huron and diminishing reception in more remote camping areas.
Water access represents a defining feature of camping in this region, with several campgrounds offering views of Lake Huron or the St. Clair River. "You're right close to the water, so you can watch the ships," notes one Algonac State Park visitor. Facilities vary widely between campgrounds, with state parks typically offering basic amenities while private campgrounds provide more extensive services. Family-friendly options include Groveland Oaks County Park, which features "mini golf, kids bike courses and playgrounds" according to recent visitors. Wildlife sightings commonly include deer, rabbits, and raccoons, with the latter being particularly bold at some campgrounds. Campers seeking quieter experiences should consider weekday visits or the less-developed sections of larger campgrounds, as summer weekends bring significant crowds to the more popular waterfront sites.
"I've stayed all over michigan, and this is one of the best. Your right close to the water, so you can watch the ships. I was very comfortable here, and I had my dog."
"Great campground with access to the beautiful St. Clair River as it runs between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair."
from $28 - $50 / night
Check Availability"This is probably the best campground in Michigan. Lots of activities to do. Swimming pools, bicycles for rent, playgrounds, pizza, children's train, etc."
"Tons to for kids, multiple pools including a zero entry, jumping pillow, ice cream stores, old west town hayrides, train rides($), multiple parks, and next to small water park."
"The park has a beautiful 2.5 mile trail around the lake that makes this campground great. We brought our own kayaks but they do rent boats. We saw deer and rabbit."
"Cell phone tower is close by. We especially enjoy the intermediate level mountain bike trails. Showers are hot. Lots of deer to see at dusk."
"Right off Lake Michigan. Great trails for easy bike riding. Helpful, friendly staff"
"Lakeport is one of the hidden gems in Michigan. We all have heard that you can find Petoskey Stones in Northern Michigan, well.... look no further!!!!!"
from $21 - $120 / night
Check Availability"The site was a larger site (#12) tucked nicely away in a corner. Picnic Table and Nice Fire Ring onsite. Port-a-potty, dumpster near site."
from $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The drive is short and there are plenty of amenities to keep the kiddos busy all day."
"We will definitely come back when it is warm enough to swim in the lake!"
"Group area is away from the main area. Kayak lakes are nice. Excellent hike/bike trails. Park is located just down the road from the Holly Oaks Off road park."
"I love to come here when I want a quick get away from home because it is only 30min away. The campsites are big,secluded, wooded, and clean."
from $27 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Only drawback is the distance from the lake. The lake is not within walking distance, you would need to drive."
"Beach is a 1.8 mile hike from the East loop in the campground but is well worth the walk."
from $20 - $80 / night
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TravelerVery nice people, Lake Huron is just a few steps away. Very clean bathrooms, Beautiful park, we ordered Jets pizza and they delivered it to our site, no wifi but thats okay with me
GuideAs usual, there's only electric at sites, but the pedestals seem fairly new, and tight. South loop is nicely wooded & has a newer, larger restroom/shower building, not much lake view. The north loop is a little less wooded, with the NW end having a little better lake views, but a pretty ancient restroom/shower facility.
Across the lake is the day use area with a beach and concession stand. (There's a small camp store in the north loop.)
ADA Only sites are asphalt paved. Some of the regular sites could be a challenge to get level on, but the rangers told me they have wood blocks for loan if you don't have enough.
Our first night & a half, we had some terrible neighbors two sites over. Constant profanities, yelling at & threatening their kids... real dirtbags. Rangers booted them from the park! Good to see them taking such positive action. I have not run into a single staff member here that wasn't pleasant.
This was our first time here. A test run, since it's only an hour from home (but feels farther). We'll be back for sure. (Especially with gas prices so high anymore.)
T-Mobile was only slow LTE at our site, but our Starlink worked perfectly at our site. Might be harder to get a clear shot in the more wooded areas of the park.
ScoutMy husband and I actually took our first camping trip in our new camper to this location, but we are novice when it comes to campgrounds. It was nice because there was always an attendant at the office to help. They gave clear and concise directions. The grounds were impeccable. Everything looked fantastic. We have even considered being seasonal here because it is so beautiful.
TravelerPretty with trees, although you do have very open views if you like more growth... weekend activities... family park, you need to be able to walk a ways to enjoy all their games, activities and beach...
GuideClean and well maintained, but no early check-ins before 3pm and no drones.
The beach is minimal and on the other side of a major road.
TravelerBeautiful location with nice amenities. Love the beach and the cabins look fantastic. Staff is friendly and accommodating
GuideThere's a gun range here that you'll hear during the day. It's not too bad.
Mixture of electric only sites, with a small amount of FHU sites. Some sites are crowded together, so be aware. On the FHU sites, some hookups are stupidly far from your pad. Better have a 50' fresh water hose, and 20'+ for sewer. I'm not kidding. At other FHU sites, you'll almost have to crawl under your slide out to get at the sewer hookup. They did a stupid job laying out some of this. Still though, it's a decent place, not much for the kids, but ours have fun there running around.
Just watch out for those that don't respect the speed limit... there's a lot of those here, and rangers don't seem to care.
TravelerThis was the first campground my daughter has ever been to. She had a blast and our campsite was nice. The only downside is that we had no close restrooms. I wish there was more available. Other than that it was a lot of fun. At night we did get a visit from a view critters and my daughter thought it was the coolest thing ever.
ScoutBecause it’s a state park, they have fresh drinking water, would for bonfires in private spots. This is one of the best areas for hiking and biking and kayaking and swimming.
Clay Township sits in the coastal flatlands along Michigan's eastern shore where the St. Clair River connects Lake St. Clair to Lake Huron. The region features wetland ecosystems and clay-based soil that can become saturated during spring rains. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with humidity levels increasing significantly in July and August, creating challenging camping conditions for unprepared visitors.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area offers extensive hiking trails where campers regularly spot deer and other woodland creatures. Visitors should exercise caution as "there are tons of mosquitoes and ticks, so make sure you bring bug spray," according to one camper who visited Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Water activities: The Black River and Lake Huron provide multiple water recreation options within 30 minutes of Clay Township. At Lakeport State Park Campground, one camper noted, "They have tons of campsites available. Right off Lake Michigan with sandy beaches and clean clear water."
Unique attractions: The area features specialized recreational opportunities beyond standard camping activities. Holly Recreation Area includes "an archery section" and shooting ranges according to visitors. One camper at Algonac State Park mentioned, "Bike trail runs through the park. Gun range and archery range on site. A couple short hiking trails."
Rock hunting: Lakeport State Park draws geology enthusiasts who search for distinctive stones along its shorelines. One visitor shared, "I have found the most beautiful Petoskey Stones at Lakeport. I have also found a large pudding stone."
Freighter watching: The St. Clair River shipping channel provides unusual entertainment for campers. A visitor to Algonac State Park Campground noted, "If you can get a River View site it is awesome. Freighters come by at all times of the day."
Privacy: Several campgrounds offer secluded sites despite the region's generally developed character. At Holly Recreation Area, a camper praised, "We stayed on site 118 in the trillium loop. Actually feels like camping with all the trees, not lined up in a farmer's field."
Recreational variety: The region balances natural landscapes with developed recreation facilities. One camper at Addison Oaks County Park stated, "Nice trails for hiking and biking. They have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean."
Reservation requirements: Campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. For Port Huron Township RV Park, a regular visitor advised, "If you want a peaceful camp trip, this is the place (if it's not during a holiday)." Some visitors book seasonal sites, with one noting, "For the 2020 season I plan on a 3 month lot rental."
Site selection factors: Location within campgrounds significantly impacts experience quality. At Algonac State Park, a camper recommended, "When booking I suggest looking at the site map and choosing a site well off the road, it's a busy throughway and the noise can be distracting, especially in summer months."
Utility connections: Power connections vary in reliability and placement. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, visitors caution, "If you are hoping to hook up to electrical, bring extension cords; some hook ups are exceptionally far away from the designated RV parking pad."
Road conditions: Campground access roads may present challenges. At Ridgewood Campground, visitors noted the "roads are stone not paved," while other facilities have deteriorating pavement that affects vehicle access.
Swimming options: Beach quality and accessibility varies among sites near Clay, Michigan. A camper at Addison Oaks County Park explained, "The park offers nice holiday activities - we were last there for Halloween camping. Would be nice to have a swimming option - I understand beach was permanently closed a few yrs ago."
Activity planning: Weekends feature organized events at several campgrounds. Port Huron KOA offers "jumping pillow, tons of scheduled activities, equipment rentals, trails nearby. There is a movie theater, old one room schoolhouse, camp store, pools, number boats and putt putt."
Wildlife awareness: Children should be monitored due to wildlife encounters. At Holly Recreation Area, campers warn, "Make sure that all food and garbage is secure at night, the raccoons have no fear."
Transportation needs: Many recreation areas have significant distances between camping areas and attractions. At Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, a visitor noted, "Only drawback is the distance from the lake. The lake is not within walking distance, you would need to drive."
Parking limitations: Some campgrounds restrict vehicle placement after setup. At Ridgewood Campground, campers advise, "Make sure that if you car camp or SUV Camp, you let them know. They have a policy of making you park your car/SUV in the lot after setting up your tent."
Site spacing concerns: RV site quality varies significantly between campgrounds and within loops. At Port Huron KOA, visitors report, "Hundreds of unsupervised rug-rats swarming like locust over all the roads without looking where they were going. Crowded sites so close to one another it was hard to tell were one started and another ended."
RV-friendly recommendations: When seeking larger sites, experienced campers suggest specific locations. A visitor to Port Huron KOA recommended, "If you're in a camper I'd recommend sites 54,179,180. Those sites have a bit of a backyard to them and more space."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Clay, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Clay, MI is Algonac State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 25 reviews.
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